Marine Engineering worked hand in hand with Shipbuilding . Marine Engine Works have always shared the good, the bad and in times of crisis, like the World Wars, the workforce as well as the firms have put in everything they had to pull the nation through. They earned high praise along side the shipbuilders for their great war efforts. Lets not forget the women , who totalled over 1000 working in the engine shops of the Wear during the 1939 1945 war.
The Marine Engine Works of George Clark in centre.
George Clark Ltd of Southwick , which became part of the Richardsons Westgarth combination was the oldest. As far back as 1848, George Clark was carrying on a general engineering business on the river. With the advent of iron shipbuilding and the introduction of steam navigation his firm concentrated on marine engineering. In 1854, George Clark,s company built the first marine engine tried out on the Wear. It was fitted into the steamer Alfred, built by James Laing. In 1876, the Fenton ( built by Austin and Hunter ) was engined. She was probably the first of the modern type of self trimming coal carrying steamers.
In 1872 the business was moved to Southwick, comprising an area of nine acres with a quay frontage of 700ft served by a large hammer-head crane of 100 tons lifting capacity. During the war, extensions were carried out, these including the erection of a new pipe shop to expedite delivery of pipes principally for frigates, corvettes and other vessels. A 30 ton travelling crane was installed to supplement the facilities.
Mr Henry Clark, managing director, retired in 1938, when an amalgamation was effected with the North-Eastern Marine Engineering Company. The war record of the works comprised 88 sets of reciprocating engines and 205 cylindrical boilers of approximately 230,000 i.h.p. On top of this engines built elsewhere were fitted into 25 ships, approximating 58,000 i.h.p. Besides cargo vessels, many other types of craft were engined and repaired, including corvettes, frigates, transport ferries and other auxiliary craft for the Royal Navy .
Other war work included machining and fitting up of the stern frame for the cruiser Mauritious, machining and fitting of turret boiler tracks for the main armament of H.M.S. Anson, machining of cast steel shell presses, cupolas and race rings for tanks as well as "tallboys" and "grand slam" bombs. Large quantities of mooring and landing gear for L.C.Ts. and ammunition trunks for battleships were constructed, and turning gear units for facilitating welding of the shells for submarines.
Since the war the works had been extensively "tooled up" for building diesel engines of the Clark-Sulzer design and the works were fully occupied on such engines. The principal factor responsible for this change was the pronounced tendency for coasters to be driven by oil engines in lieu of steam engines and most of the engines built or building by George Clarks were of medium power between 800 and 2,000 h.p. for such craft.
The North-Eastern Marine Engineering Co. Ltd was incorporated in 1865. In 1882 the Sunderland works at the South Dock were extended by the erection of foundries, coppershops and other departments, and in 1902 the works were electrified. In 1938 the company was concerned in a big amalgamation involving Richardsons Westgarth and Co., Ltd, and the Southwick works of George Clark, Ltd.
In the post-war years the South Dock works were fully occupied in building steam engines principally of the "North Eastern Reheated " type - a type introduced by the company in 1937 of which about 200 installations had been completed or were on order by 1953. Since the war the North Eastern Marine and their associates had built and installed propelling machinery of 817,180 h.p. in 240 vessels of varying types totalling 1,758,549 tons deadweight by 1953.
Laings Shipyard
Since the war the works had been extensively "tooled up" for building diesel engines of the Clark-Sulzer design and the works were fully occupied on such engines. The principal factor responsible for this change was the pronounced tendency for coasters to be driven by oil engines in lieu of steam engines and most of the engines built or building by George Clarks were of medium power between 800 and 2,000 h.p. for such craft.
The North-Eastern Marine Engineering Co. Ltd was incorporated in 1865. In 1882 the Sunderland works at the South Dock were extended by the erection of foundries, coppershops and other departments, and in 1902 the works were electrified. In 1938 the company was concerned in a big amalgamation involving Richardsons Westgarth and Co., Ltd, and the Southwick works of George Clark, Ltd.
In the post-war years the South Dock works were fully occupied in building steam engines principally of the "North Eastern Reheated " type - a type introduced by the company in 1937 of which about 200 installations had been completed or were on order by 1953. Since the war the North Eastern Marine and their associates had built and installed propelling machinery of 817,180 h.p. in 240 vessels of varying types totalling 1,758,549 tons deadweight by 1953.
Sunderland were also world famous for Ship Repairs and reconditioning and re-construction.